It’s been a long time coming, but Tom’s House of Pizza could be serving pies in Red Deer before year end.
The city’s municipal planning commission voted on Monday to approve plans for a restaurant and sports lounge at 6852 66th St.
The proposed two-storey, 5,279-square-foot food and beverage business would include a Tom’s House of Pizza and a sports bar and lounge operating as Brad’s Pit.
Tom’s House of Pizza dates back to 1963, with several outlets currently operating in Calgary and another in Okotoks.
Peter Clow, a partner with Cognidyn Engineering and Design, told the commission that the lounge would seat approximately 80 to 90 people.
He added that it would likely operate on restaurant hours, such as 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Minors would be prohibited from the 1,973-square-foot enclosed lounge on the second floor but permitted elsewhere, including a rooftop patio.
Clow later told reporters that construction is expected to start this spring and take anywhere from six months to a year to complete.
“Optimistically, we would be up and running by Christmas time.”
Developer Brad Gabrielson actually received site development approval for a restaurant and 40-suite hotel on the site in June 2007. The following March, the commission authorized a drinking establishment as an ancillary use to the restaurant.
Work on that project never started, however. The commission heard on Monday that the economic downturn and problems obtaining financing persuaded Gabrielson to drop the hotel.
He said later that he’s still seeking financing for the hotel portion, but that it won’t be developed at this time.
Gabrielson is confident the restaurant and lounge will attract plenty of patrons, even without the hotel.
He pointed to residential growth in northwest Red Deer, demand from the industrial area to the north, the three hotels operating nearby, the site’s proximity to Hwy 2 and the fact there are few restaurants in the area.
One benefit of the delayed construction is the fact costs have come down from the approximately $4 million Gabrielson had budgeted for the building two years ago.
“We feel we should be able to do it a minimum of 20 per cent and up to 40 per cent cheaper.”
Gabrielson developed the Comfort Inn and Suites at 6846 66th St. in 2005.